The most common form of poker is Texas Hold ‘Em, which is played with five cards. This is the type of poker used in most tournaments and has had a recent increase in popularity overall. However, over the years many variations have been invented. Some of the more popular are as follows.

Draw Poker (Five Card Draw)

Draw poker is another popular form of the game, especially for home games. In this game, players receive five concealed cards and can discard one or more in hopes of receiving better ones.

Hi/Lo

This can be a variation on many different poker games. In this variation the pot is split between the best high hand and the best low hand. The best low hand normally must add up to eight or better. Two pocket and three up cards must make up the hand.

Lowball

This is played the same as Draw Poker; except whereas in Draw Poker the highest hand wins, in Lowball the lowest hand wins.

Omaha

Omaha is similar to Texas Hold ‘Em, except the players are each dealt four cards and five community cards are dealt face up. Any of the pocket cards can be used to make the best hand with two pocket cards and three community cards.

Russian Poker

In Russian poker four players are each dealt 13 cards and they arrange them into their best three poker hands. The “Front” hand is a three-card hand and the “Middle” and “Back” ones are five-card hands. The middle and back hands have to outrank the front hand. Some people play with a surrender option where a player can give up and surrender some chips to the other players. Otherwise, the players compare their hands and players win chips for each of their winning hands. The overall winner receives an extra bonus.

Seven Card Stud

Each player is dealt two face-down cards and one face-up card. Players get three more face-up cards, one per round, and then one more round with a face-down card is dealt. Players make their best hand with any of the seven cards dealt. This game can also be played as five-card stud with four exposed cards and one concealed.